Friction-clutch.



S. A. THOMAS.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED IuNs22,vI9I5.

ilfented Ap?. 24, 1917.

I, um

` i @TA1 retentir SAMUEL A. THOMAS, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

FBICTION-OLUTCH.

Application filed J une 22, 1915.

ing member of a hoisting engine or the like.

The object of my improvements is to provide inexpensively constructed means which are detachably connected to flanges of a rope winding drum and whereby the frictional block elements of a clutch member when they become worn or otherwise rendered inefficient may be quickly and conveniently replaced by others.

`With these ends in view, the .invention consists in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of a portion of a hoisting engine embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary end views of the clutch members shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a removable portion of one of the clutch members; and Fig.

5 is a similar view of a clutch element or v Yare two concentric ribs 13 and 14 having ybeveled opposing faces 131 and 111 which serve as frictional surfaces with respect to the correspondingly beveled outer faces 151 of an annular rib, or ring, 15 secured to the web 101 of said spur wheel. rilhis ring jis composed of a series of segmental friction blocks such as represented in Fig. 5 and indicated by 152, 153 and 151 in Fig. 2, the blocks being each detachably secured to the spur wheel web by headed bolts 1t? and nuts Specification of Letters Patent.

ing engine, the reference .numeral (3 desig-` Patented Apr. 241, 191'?.

Serial No. 35,649.

17 as shown in Fig. 1. To operatively couple the drum with the power driven spur wheeljlO, the. drum is moved axially in ope position to a spring 18 to carry the clutch elements 13 and 14 of the drum into engagement with the friction blocks on the Spui' wheel which, in the illustrated example, is accomplished by means of a screw 19 acting in a fixed nut :20 pushinga thrust vpin 21 against a key 22 which is movable in slot 23 of the drum carrying shaft;

The devices so far explained are, or may be, similar to devices hitherto in use.

According to the present invention the drum flange 7 has formed therein an opening of a` size sufficient for the passage of one of the .friction blocks. lrovided for this opening is a removable closure (Fig. l) comprising a plate 21 with an inwardly directed flange 25 which fits into a recess 26 provided in the drum rib 13 and constitutes,l

in effect, a part thereof. Below said open lng the rib 1s reinforced, as at 132, to serve as a support for the plate flange This plate is detachably held in place by means of screws 27 which engage in tnreadcd holes arranged symmetrically with respect te the seams between the plate and the adjacent portions of the drum flange 7.

lV hen the blocks 152, 153, etc.7 which are .of wood or other relatively soft material,

ecome worn they have heretofore been re Jmoved after the shaft 8 has been withdrawn from its bearings so that the drum may be blocks-an extremely laborious operation and vrequiring considerable time to accom plisll.

`With my invention, however, the plate or closure for the drum flange may be readily removed and the various blocks thereupon removed through the opening in the drum flange when they are successively brought opposite such opening and subsequent to the withdrawal of the respective bolts 16.

As each block is removed it may be replaced by another and so en until a new series of blocks have been applied and secured by their bolts, after which the plate is restored to the drum flange to close the opening therein and have the plate flange 25 fill the recess in the drum flange. By such devices the strength of the drum flange is unimpaired and at the same time aordsmeans whereby the friction blocks may be replaced therein of sufiicient size for the withdrawal therethrough of one of seid friction blocks, zi closure for said opening, und means for detachably securing said closure within said opening.

2. In epparatns of the class described, the combination with a shaft1 :i power driven wheel mounted on, the shaft, a series of friction blocks detachably secured to 'said wheel, :L drinn rotatable on said shaft and provided with a lienge at its end adjacent to seid wheel7 and two concentric ribs provided on the drum llzmge and serving with the nforesitid friction blocks :is clutch elements, seid drinn h'ange being provided with an opening which is coextensive with a recess 'provided in one of said ribs of means for ciosing said opening and also the rib recess, and devices for detacliably securing said means to tlie'drum flange.

3. in apparatus of the class described7 the combination of a driving member having detachable friction blocks thereon, a driven member provided with friction elements complementary to said blocks for coupling the two members, said driven member being provided with a detachable portion to furnish :in opening whereby the friction bioclis may be successively removed through seid driven member.

i. ln :i device of the class described, the combinati'on of a flanged drum having an annular friction groove in said flange, annular friction blocks secured to n revolving member and adapted to frictiomilly engnge ysaid friction groovet and n removable gate in the flange of said drinn whereby lthe friction blocksmay be changed when the gute is removed with the drinn and revolving member in their assembled positions.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 11th dayof June7 1915.

SAMUEL A. THOBLXS. lfitnesses:

Pinnen B inivns, LOLA G. iV/risen. 

